NBA Roundup
Randolph keys Trail Blazers’ win over Pistons, 88-85 AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – Zach Randolph’s short jumper put Portland ahead with 21.6 seconds to go, and the Trail Blazers beat the Detroit Pistons 88-85 Tuesday night to stop a five-game losing streak.
Randolph finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds, less than a year after scoring a career-best 37 in the same building. Richard Hamilton had 25 for Detroit, which lost its second straight after an eight-game winning streak.
Juan Dixon’s jumper broke an 80-all tie with 2:13 left, and after Chauncey Billups made a technical-foul free throw, Jarrett Jack hit two shots from the line to give the Trail Blazers an 84-81 lead.
Rasheed Wallace’s layup made it a one-point game, and Dixon missed a long jumper before Billups gave the Pistons the lead with a 22-footer. Randolph answered with a driving jumper over Tayshaun Prince, putting Portland ahead 86-85.
Hamilton missed twice at the other end and Jack increased the margin to three with a pair of free throws with 2 seconds to play. Hamilton shot an airball at the buzzer.
Jack finished with 18 points and rookie LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Randolph, who attended Michigan State, scored 37 in his last visit to the Palace, a 93-89 loss on Dec. 20, 2005.
Billups finished with 17 for Detroit.
Detroit led 44-41 at halftime, helped by 15 first-quarter points from Hamilton. Portland outrebounded the Pistons 23-16 in the first half, but only forced two turnovers.
The Trail Blazers scored the first eight points of the third quarter, including a 3-pointer by Ime Udoka, and held a slim lead for most of the period.
Mavericks 92, Nets 75
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points and Josh Howard added 23 to lead Dallas past New Jersey.
A night after having its 12-game winning streak snapped at Washington, Dallas led from the game’s first basket and pulled away in the fourth quarter. Howard and Nowitzki led the surge, scoring all of Dallas’ points in a 13-4 run that gave the Mavericks an 88-71 lead with 3:10 left.
Vince Carter scored 20 points for New Jersey, which lost for the seventh time in nine games.
Rockets 118, Warriors 90
HOUSTON – Tracy McGrady scored 31 points and dished out seven assists and Yao Ming added 27 points as the Houston Rockets routed the Golden State Warriors.
Chuck Hayes grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds and Juwan Howard added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Rockets, who shot 54 percent (45 of 84) against the NBA’s worst defense. Houston won for the sixth time in seven games.
McGrady showed no effects from the concussion he suffered after taking an elbow from Dikembe Mutombo in Saturday’s win over Cleveland. McGrady hit 13 of 25 shots and grabbed two rebounds with three steals.
Yao, meanwhile, manhandled Golden State’s big men, making 12 of 17 shots, most of them dunks and layups.